Characters That Haunt The Mind

Deslily is hosting a wonderful contest right now. The rules are simple:

I want the post to be about a character in a book that you really like. One that for whatever reason, you can't seem to forget. Or one that you related to. Or one that made you laugh. Just make it about a character you can't seem to forget. Tell about how you found this character, and most of all... why you like him/ her/ it... post it before August 3rd and leave a link so that others can read your post.

I love the idea behind this contest. There are so many possibilities for this one, but I've decided to go with a couple of characters that haven't left my mind since they've entered it about a month ago...They are Henry and Clare from Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife.

Since I've read the book and posted about it, I've noticed that there is a universal love for this book and these two characters. They defy genres. Fans of any genre appreciate this book and appreciate these characters. I think it is because this book has such a basic human element to it. The characters are so real. There are intimate moments in the book that anyone who has ever been in a relationship can relate to.

What I loved about the characters of Henry and Clare is that neither one of them are perfect, yet they are perfect for each other. Clare is always there for Henry when he is at his weakest. How many people could handle a relationship as stressed as this one. Yet the relationship seems so smooth...so easy...it fits, it's right. Same goes with Henry; while he isn't always physically there for Clare, she is in his thoughts in everything that he does. There love for each other is pure.

I loved them as individuals as well...not just as a couple. They both had incredible taste in music and I loved the scene at the Violent Femmes concert. Henry was a librarian which automatically makes him cool and hello! he can time travel! Clare is an artist which appealed to me immediately because Megan is an artist as well. So I connected with their relationship right away. Clare's just an all around cool gal.

The whole time I read the book, I thought that these were people that I would love to hang out with. I would love to get a cup of coffee with these guys or have a couple of drinks with them. It's rare that I connect with characters as well as I did here. That's no doubt due to Niffenegger's excellent writing.

I encourage everyone to join in on Deslily's contest! I'd really like to hear other peoples answers :)